14 February 2022, Punjab: The PAU’s Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Sangrur organized an annual meeting of its Scientific Advisory Committee under the chairmanship of Dr Ashok Kumar, Director Extension Education, PAU, on February 9, 2022. In the beginning, Dr Kumar and all the committee members took a round of technology park, polynet house, fruit and vegetable nutrition garden, vermi-compost unit, mushroom unit, bio gas production unit, seed production area, etc. and appreciated the efforts for well maintenance of all the demonstrations units and trials.
Dr PPS Pannu, Additional Director of Research (Natural Resources and Plant Health Management) and Dr GPS Sodhi, Additional Director of Extension Education, PAU also graced the occasion.
Dr Kumar lauded the good coordination between the KVK and the line departments of the district Sangrur. He motivated the KVK scientists to work collectively to combat the forthcoming challenges in the upcoming year. He advised them to transfer PAU technologies in every nook and corner of the district. Besides, he suggested organizing trainings and exposure visits of progressive farmers in order to acquaint with them with agro processing techniques and Skill Development Centre of PAU. He also laid emphasis on oilseed and turmeric processing as well as cultivation of vegetables under protected conditions.
Dr Pannu advised the farmers to grow oilseeds, pulses and sugarcane for domestic processing and shared the nutritional importance of different millets in daily diet. He advocated adoption of subsidiary occupations for supplementing farm family income, especially, for small and marginal farmers.
Dr Sodhi stressed on judicious and need based use of pesticides and fertilizers in various field crops. He also advised the farmer members to adopt short duration rice varieties and crop residue management in order to conserve natural resources and ecology of the state. He urged them to seek guidance from KVK scientists for adoption of new agricultural techniques and to reduce farm expenditure.
Dr Jaswinderpal Singh Grewal, Joint Director (Inputs), Punjab motivated the farmers for green manuring and organic farming, and assured timely supply of agri-inputs by the government.
Sardar Harwinder Singh, a farmer member of SAC, shared his views on judicious use of nitrogenous fertilizers in rice and wheat crops.
Sardar Kuldeep Singh, a progressive mushroom grower, suggested arranging a training programme for mushroom processing.
Smt Arwinder Kaur, a group leader, Sanjeevani Self Help Group, asked for conducting more training programmes for the farm women.
Sardar Narinder Singh from Longowal wished to acquire training in vegetable and honey processing.
During the meeting, Dr Mandeep Singh, Associate Director (Training), KVK, Sangrur welcomed the officers, progressive farmers/farm women and presented the detailed Training Action Plan of the KVK for the year 2022-23. All the members of the scientific advisory committee and progressive farmers/farm women interacted and gave their valuable suggestions for the betterment of action plan which were accepted by the Chairman of the committee. Dr Singh also presented the action taken report and annual progress report of KVK for the year 2020-21; he shared the impact of vocational trainings in terms of adoption and income generation, crop residue management and diversification in district and other extension activities which were appreciated by the members of SAC.
